Silence of the lambs film opening analysis.

An enigma code is a question that I posed by a film. 

For example one enigma code could be what’s the character’s name. An action code is the answer to the question. It’s what the film tells us. 

  It begins with a tracking shot and an establishing shot. This is to show the audience where the film is set and located. It gives us the bigger picture. We also get a glimpse of the main character within the first few minutes of the opening.

  

The showing of the female (the main character) tells an enigma code to the audience that she is just an everyday female. Doing ordinary things like exercise. As the female continues to run around the area that she is in, the audience then begins to learn more about her. She reveals an action code she isn't actually doing an everyday thing. This makes the audience become nervous about the character as they believed she was something

she wasn't.

There is then a long take of a female struggling over a net. This shows a characterization of her that she is strong and is determined to get over any obstacle in the way. 

There is a non-diegetic sound being played in the background. It is a calm soundtrack, but always slightly tenses up which makes the audience believe that she could possibly be in trouble. We are then greeted by a male wearing an ‘FBI’ hat.  He tells her that Agent Crawford wants to talk to her.

This then lets the audience learn more about her that she is actually training to be in the FBI and that all the exercise she previously done was just an everyday activity for a training FBI agent. While the female is running into the offices trying to find Agent Crawford we are greeted by another trainee FBI student. This is when we learn the female’s name. Her name is Clarice.

Clarice then reveals another action code. The fact that she has gone the same way as a sign saying ‘ behavioral science services’ tell us what Clarice is actually doing there. It no longer leaves us with an enigma code.The fact that Clarice is walking around offices while everyone else is dressed fancy is suits and dresses and she’s wearing basically gym uniform, gives off an action code that she isn't quite trained yet and there are more superior people then Clarice. 

 

There is then another establishing shot of Clarice going into an elevator with a group of men. This is juxtaposition to show how small Clarice really is, and how FBI is traditionally seen as a ‘male’ enrollment. So Clarice breaks the tradition. But also in the clip you see the Clarice is in front of the men which could also demonstrate that possibly she ends up with more power than they have. Also the men in this clip are wearing red clothing. The red clothing usually connotes a threat and normally blood. This could signify that males are the threat within this film and you should be wary of them.

There is then a close up of Clarice in his office. This scene shows off a characterization of her, the fact that she is nosy and always seems to be aware of the situation around her this is also shows that she has a serious interest in her job.

There are some enigma codes that comes to mind throughout this opening, they are:

Why is she running at the very beginning?

Who is Crawford?

Why doe she want to talk to her? Is she in trouble?

And who is Hannibal Lector?

While writing this essay I have learnt that in horror films they mainly use a close up shot off a character and this is to really identify the main expression of fear on their face.